Puzzle.



Patented lune 24, |902.

F. L. NAPIER.

PUZZLE.

(Application led Oct. 12, 1901.1

(No Model.)

(i Z1-v ezzv 7 WLM "NE NORRYS PETERS C() F'HOTO-UYHIL. WASHINGTON. D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FRANK LISLE NAPIER, OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,076, dated .T une 24, 1902.

Application led October 12| 1901. Serial No. '781480. (No model.)

To LZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK LIsLE NAPIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Berrien and State of Michigan, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in puzzles and contemplates the provision of a railroad-puzzle which While simple and inexpensive in construction is very difficult of solution, and hence calculated to afford considerable amusement to the persons who seek to Work it out. It Will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a plan view of the puzzle with the blocks representing locomotives and cars in the positions they are placed precedent to the commencement of the Working of the puzzle. Fig. 2 is a similar View with the blocks representing locomotives and cars in the positions they occupy when the puzzle is Worked out or solved. Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

In the said drawings similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the several views, referring to which A is the base of myimproved puzzle, which may be made of any material suitable to the purpose of the invention.

B is a main track, which is preferably in the form of a guidetvay in the upper side of the base.

C C are branch tracks, preferably in the form of guideways or grooves in the upper side of the base, which diverge in reverse directions from one side of the main track and un`i{te in a stem or guideWayD, so as to form a E is an auxiliary branch track or guideway, Which by preference extends laterally from the opposite side of the main track A with reference to the branch tracks C C'.

Fisablockrepresentingalocomotive. FF' are blocks representing cars, which in conjunction With said locomotive constitute a train.

Gr is a block representing the locomotive of another train.

G G are blocks representing the cars of the latter train, and H is a block representing an idle car.

The locomotive F and cars F', of which latter there are preferably three, are shown as purple in'color, While the locomotive G and live cars G are illustrated as blue and the idle car H as red. It is obvious, however, that the said locomotive and cars may be variously colored or otherwise rendered different in appearance from each other Without departing from the scope of my inv'ention.

Precedent to the commencement of the working of the puzzle the locomotives and oars are placed as shown in Fig. l-that is to say, the locomotives are arranged head to head in the main track with the cars of their respective trains behind them and the idle car H in the branch C of the Y. The Working or solution of the puzzle consists in getting the train comprising the locomotive F and cars F and the train comprising the locomotive G and cars G past each other and headed in opposite directions on the main track with their original end cars or cabooses adjacent to each other and leaving the idle car H inits initial position in the branch C of the Y. It is effected by moving the cars through the medium ofthe engines, and one of the rules to be observed is that no car can be moved unless a locomotive is, figuratively speaking, either pulling or pushing same. While this is so, the person Working the puzzle is not required to move a locomotive every time he Wishes to move a car or cars; but it is essential that the locomotive lie in direct line with said car or cars, so as to admit of it being employed for the movement thereof if desired.

The branch track E, leading from the main track at an intermediate point in the length of the latter, is essential, because in order to get the trains past each other and headed in opposite directions one part of one train must be switched into said branch track E incident to the solution of the puzzle.

The main track, the Y, the branch track, and the cars are pre ferabl y of the proportional sizes illustrated.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

l. In the puzzle described, the blocks repn IOO resenting the locomotives and cars of two trains, and an idle car; in combination with a base having a Inain track and branch tracks diverging in reverse directions from one side of the main track and uniting in a stem so as to forrn a Y, and also having an auxiliary branch track extending from the main track at an intermediate point in the length of the latter.

2. In the puzzle described, the combination with a base having a main track and branch tracks diverging in reverse directions from one side thereof, and uniting in a stem so as to form a Y, and also having an auxiliary branch track extending from the main track I5 at an intermediate point in the length of the latter; of blocks representing the locomotives and cars of two trains; said blocks being of such size as to loosely occupy the main track, and another block representing an idle car and adapted to be arranged in the Y.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

FRANK LISLE NAPIER. Witnesses:

E. S. KELLEY, FRED W'URZ, Jr. 

